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Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow 438.: mill to ricardo1[Answered by 441] - The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, Vol. 9 Letters 1821-1823

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438.: mill to ricardo1[Answered by 441] - David Ricardo, The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, Vol. 9 Letters 1821-1823 [1821]

Edition used:

The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, ed. Piero Sraffa with the Collaboration of M.H. Dobb (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2005). Vol. 9 Letters 1821-1823.

Part of: The Works and Correspondence of David Ricardo, 11 vols (Sraffa ed.)

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


438.

mill to ricardo1
[Answered by 441]

My dear Sir

I am extremely sorry to announce to you what respecting myself is very bad news; my inability to visit you along with Mr. Tooke. It would have been difficult to arrange matters in this office in such a manner as to get away for at least another week; but I am called upon in another way, which fixes the inability upon other grounds. I am bound to Napier, for an article “Liberty of the Press”, for his Encyclopedia. This I expected not to have any demand upon me for, during several months, because the No. to which “Jurisprudence” belongs is not yet published, and I knew “Liberty of the Press” could only be included in the next. I had, however, a letter from Napier the other day in which he tells me that the present No. has only been delayed on account of Dugald Stewart’s Preliminary Dissertation; that in the mean time he has begun the printing of the subsequent No.; that considerable progress has been made in it, and that my article will be wanted in a month. It would be impossible for me to have it ready in a month, if I had nothing else to do. But I cannot think of an excursion of pleasure, when I should be interrupting so many people by my delay. I must get relieved from my duties here, as quickly as possible, and bury myself at Marlow,2 where my family now are, till I have completed my task. It will be of no small importance to put the subject upon a good foundation, and I am anxious to treat it as well as I am able. I am still not without hopes of stealing a week in which I can make a run down to you; but it must be somewhat late in the season. We shall hear from one another in the mean time, and may perhaps find a time that will be convenient for both. I hope the Ladies will not forget me in the mean time. My hopes of pleasure from their society, in the old scenes and occupations, were such that I do not easily submit even to postpone the realizing of them.1

The news of the death of Bonaparte will have reached you. The only effect it will have here is that of relieving us from some expense. In France it will have some portion of the effect which the death of the Pretender has had here: to make the Government pursue despotism with somewhat less fear, and more effrontery.

I hear various accounts about the “august ceremony”.2 There are rumours about the King’s head. The agitating of the question about the queen, too, is exciting apprehension, more, I am persuaded, than there is any ground for. In fact the people seem to understand the nature of the “imposing spectacle”; and in spite of the Marquess and Nicky Van,3 can see nothing in it but a subject of laughter and contempt. The thing might be endured, because it is old; but to attempt in the present day to puff it up into a matter of importance, and instead of performing it with the utmost simplicity, as a thing the day for which had gone by, to make it a draw for the public money, is only to compell people to consider how little it accords with the spirit of the times, how unworthy it is of the people of a civilised age, and how much more properly it would have been extinguished with the barbarous ages which gave it birth. The folly of it, by the ostentation of the present performance, will become so apparent, as probably to prevent a repetition. The effect of it seems likely to be, according to all I see and hear, to render monarchy more contemptible; by making it appear the principal piece of a harliquinade.

I hope I shall hear from you soon, and am as at all times,

Most truly Yours

J. Mill

[1 ]MS in R.P.

[2 ]Great Marlow, Bucks.

[1 ]On 10 July 1821 Mill, from the East India House, wrote to Napier: ‘I have been hard at work upon the article Liberty of the Press, and for that purpose suspended the printing of my book on Political Economy...I have refused to pay my annual visit to Ricardo, that I may work for you, so that you must not blame me if there is a little delay.’ (See Selections from the Correspondence of M. Napier, p. 27; Bain, James Mill, p. 194.)

[2 ]The coronation of George IV, on 19 July 1821.

[3 ]The Marquess of Londonderry (Lord Castlereagh) and Nicholas Vansittart.